In two weeks time a University of Minnesota Duluth (UMD) Bulldog could receive the biggest call of his life. Aiden Williams, a native of Alaska, has been working relentlessly this offseason for a chance to be selected in the 2025 NFL Draft.

“I haven’t really heard anything regarding rounds or anything. So we’ll see, I’m kind of on the fringe of drafted, undrafted, is what I understand. There was, I would say, probably a handful of teams that were pretty interested. I think everyone at the Shrine Bowl, I met with all 32 scouts, they were all kind of impressed with my story and where I came from. I think I made a good impression there as well,” Williams shared.

Williams participated in the renowned East-West Shrine Bowl in late January, and turned heads at the Minnesota Gophers’ Pro Day in mid-March, where he was joined by fellow Bulldog and draft hopeful Sam Pitz.

Throughout this busy process Williams has transitioned to a new position, from offensive tackle to guard.

“So guard and center, all interior. You’re playing against bigger guys upfront. Outside guys, the D-ends, they’re a little bit faster, a little bit smaller than the guys in the middle. But at that level, everyone’s big and strong, so it doesn’t really matter where you are. I’d say the only challenge really is going to center. Just knowing the different combo calls and stuff like that, the different defensive fronts,” Williams said.

Coming off his sixth year at UMD, he is now vying to become the first Bulldog to be taken in the NFL Draft since Brent Griffith was taken by the Buffalo Bills in 1990.

The 2025 NFL Draft takes place April 24-26 in Green Bay.